First as a player and now as coach, Robert Warzycha has been a member of the Crew organization
since its inaugural season. What he saw yesterday at Crew Stadium left him scrambling for
answers.

After falling behind in a listless first half, the Crew got a spectacular goal from Dominic
Oduro in the 72nd minute to earn a 1-1 tie with the Philadelphia Union in front of 10,293 fans. The
tie improved a home unbeaten streak to 11 games but only gave the Crew (2-1-2) its second point in
the standings in two home games this season.“It’s difficult to explain why we started the game the
way we started,” Warzycha said. “For the last 17 years, we have been trying to be the team that
starts the right way, especially at home, (the team that) goes and puts on pressure and wins the
games. Today was completely opposite. I don’t know how to explain it or why.”After Union midfielder
Danny Cruz broke through the Crew’s offside trap and fed teammate Jack McInerney for a tap-in goal
in the 34th minute, Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven said the team was “probably lucky” to only be
trailing by one.

Inside what goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum described as a “pretty bleak” halftime locker room,
Warzycha altered his lineup and his formation.

Defensive midfielder Agustin Viana was replaced by forward Jairo Arrieta, who came off the bench
for the first time in his Crew career. The move left Danny O’Rourke as the only holding midfielder.
It gave the Crew an extra attacking option and, Warzycha hoped, sent a message.

“In the first half, I think some guys maybe got too comfortable (after) playing the first four
games, and they’re thinking they’re going to be on the field all the time,” he said. “That’s not
the case.”

The move sparked the Crew offense, which had generated a handful of unsuccessful chances despite
the lackluster first half.

“I saw (Gaven), we made eye contact, I made the movement and he made the right pass,” Oduro said
of his goal from a tight angle. “I was just praying for glory, hitting the ball from that angle. I
was hoping that it would go off somebody to tuck it in. I’m glad it went in.”

Arrieta, who tied for the team lead with nine goals last season despite playing in only 18
games, learned from Warzycha on Friday that he would not be starting. Oduro earned the spot with a
strong performance in the Crew’s last game, a 2-1 win at D.C. United on March 23 when Arrieta was
with Costa Rica for two World Cup qualifying games.

“Obviously, I came here to be a starter, like every player, but Robert decided to go with
another player,” Arrieta said through an interpreter. “I accepted the decision of the coach. What I
need to do now is work harder and try to convince Robert that I can be the starter the next
game."

Warzycha said: “You can’t go wrong with Dominic or Arrieta. They’re both very good players.
Having success in D.C. and playing very good, it would probably not be right for Dominic to put him
on the bench.”